He was right." Cortin thought back to the debriefing and that
mysterious Lieutenant, certain he was somehow involved--but that the
classified assignment probably was too, so it would be wiser not to ask
about either his identity or his involvement. She'd thank him for it
later, if she could do so without breaking security. For now, she
smiled at Illyanov. "So, when do we start?"

"I do love an enthusiastic student . . . shortly after we finish here,
if you are that impatient. Any Brothers of Freedom captured in this
area--except, for now, those probably having critical or time-sensitive
information--will either be sent here or held where they were captured
until you decide whether to question them yourself or turn them over to
another Inquisitor." He gave her a raised-eyebrow smile. "I confess to
being astonished at that, Captain. I have heard of prisoners being
reserved for a particularly skilled Inquisitor, yes, but never for a
student. Even one as promising as yourself."

Odeon whistled. "Neither have I, and I'd thought I'd heard just about
everything." He'd known for a long time that Joan Cortin was something
special, but Illyanov was right--this was unprecedented. "Joanie, any
ideas?"

"Not exactly, though I can't help connecting this with the Inquisitor
on the team that debriefed me. I'm positive he's more than a simple
Lieutenant, and--" she chuckled ruefully, "from what I've learned
since, I'm sure he picked up more from me than I told him verbally. Or
wanted to tell him, for that matter."

"And what did this more-than-Lieutenant look like?" Illyanov asked,
suddenly attentive.

"A bit over 180 centis, slender build, medium-brown hair receding
slightly above the temples, green eyes, classical features that looked
like he laughs a lot--" She broke off, seeing recognition in the
others' faces. "You've both met him, then."

They nodded. "The . . . officer I spoke to at Personnel," Odeon said.

"Colonel David Bradford," Illyanov said with a slow smile, "of His
Majesty's Own. Yes, that explains many of the rumors currently
circulating."

After a few moments, Odeon asked, "Are you going to share that
explanation?"

"Indeed, but not here. Captain Cortin and I must go to the Detention
Center so she may choose her first subject. I will share my deduction
on the way, if you care to join us."

"Try to keep me away!"

* * * * *

As soon as they were on the way to D